Is Garlic Harmful To Dogs?

Posted by Katelyn Willoughby / garlicshaker.com
on
January 26, 2018

A
quick search for “dogs and garlic” reveals quite a bit of controversy on the
subject. Some proclaim that garlic should be added to the black list, and that
ingestion of the plant will put Fido at risk– or can result in death. Others
dismiss these claims, insisting that garlic is harmless (or even healthy!) when
given in the right quantities. So can your furry friend consume garlic without
risking illness? The answer is not a simplistic as one would hope…

There
is a compound present in garlic – just like onions and shallots – called
n-propyldisulfide.
Ready to get scientific? n-propyldisulfide is an organosulfur compound – meaning it
contains sulfur. Depending on how sulfur is chemically altered, it can be
helpful or harmful (sulfur is found in both penicillin and mustard gas, for
example). It is this same compound that, as it evaporates, causes eyes to water
and become irritated. n-propyldisulfide can cause oxidative damage to red blood
cells when taken in large enough doses. The effect creates Heinz bodies – or
mutated and damaged cells – which are eventually rejected by your pup’s body.
If your pooch continues to ingest heavy doses of garlic over a long period of
time, it can lead to anemia and even death.

Wait
– if this is case, forget it! No garlic for Fido. Not necessarily. The key to
safe use of garlic on dogs is the
dosage level and frequency
of use
. Too much of anything is bad for you – even the minerals present in
your daily diet in large quantities can be detrimental over time. Things like
salt, vitamin D, or zinc are all good for you, as long as you’re not overdoing
it! The same goes with garlic and dogs. At some level, these things all have
the potential to be toxic.

For
a dog to develop Heinz-body anemia, for example, they would have to eat 0.5% of
their body weight in garlic to even begin the oxidative process. That means a
healthy 60-pound dog would have to consume over 5-oz of garlic for the process
to take effect. Since red blood cells are constantly regenerated from the bone
marrow, a dog would likely need to ingest this amount of garlic on a repeated
basis to cause permanent harm.

Here’s
a guide on the garlic levels safe for dogs
per day, based on a
dog’s weight (from
The Complete Guide to Natural Health for Dogs and
Cats
by Dr. Pitcairn):

10 to 15 pounds: .5 clove

20 to 40 pounds: 1 clove

45 to 70 pounds: 2 cloves

75 to 90 pounds: 2.5 cloves

Over 100 pounds: 3 cloves

Once
you’ve determined your dog’s dosage, they can start reaping the benefits
including:

Reduced Ticks/Fleas:
While garlic doesn’t kill these pests, it certainly repels them! The
chemical produced by garlic- allicin- emits a pungent smell that wards off
these buggers. One sniff and they’ll be packing!

Boosted Immune System:
Garlic has been proven to boost cells that destroy bad microbes and cancer
cells in your pooch.

Livelier Liver: Garlic
is known to have detoxifying effects, which can help the liver get rid of
toxins from the body.

Reduced Bacterial, Viral,
and Fungal Infections
: Bacteria, virus and fungi are no match for
garlic! With its potent antimicrobial and antibiotic properties, it fights
parasites and protozoan organisms as well.

Reduced Cholesterol:
Mix the proper dose of uncooked garlic with your dog’s food and it can
help lower blood cholesterol and triglyceride levels.

Cardiovascular Boost:
Garlic has been shown to prevent blood clots, and reduce cholesterol
levels and fat build up in the arteries. Great for pudgy pups!

Now
we’d like to hear from you: have you fed your dog garlic and seen positive
results? Do you think it’s better to be “safe than sorry” and avoid the plant
altogether? Let us know in the comments!